Introduction
Town in Ontario, CanadaEast GwillimburyTown (lower-tier)
Motto:  Our Town, Our FutureLocation of East Gwillimbury York Region.East GwillimburyCoordinates: 44°08′N 79°25′W / 44.133°N 79.417°W / 44.133; -79.417Country CanadaProvince OntarioRegional MunicipalityYork RegionTownship of East Gwillimbury1850Town of East Gwillimbury1971Government • TypeMunicipality • MayorVirginia Hackson • CouncillorScott CroneCathy MortonTara Roy-DiclementeJoe PersechiniLoralea CarruthersTerry FosterArea • Total244.91 km2 (94.56 sq mi)Population (2021) • Total34,637 • Density141.4/km2 (366/sq mi) • Growth+44.4% (2,016–2,021) Time zoneUTC-5 (EST) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)Forward sortation areaL9NArea code905Websitewww.eastgwillimbury.ca
East Gwillimbury is a town (lower-tier municipality) on the East Holland River in the upper-tier municipality the Regional Municipality of York. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area of southern Ontario, in Canada. It was formed by the amalgamation of the Township of East Gwillimbury with all the previously incorporated villages and hamlets within the township. The main centres in East Gwillimbury are the villages of Holland Landing, Queensville, Sharon, and Mount Albert. The Civic Centre (municipal offices) are located along Leslie Street in Sharon. The northernmost interchange of Highway 404 is at the North edge of East Gwillimbury, just south of Ravenshoe Road. The hamlets of Holt and Brown Hill are also within town limits.
East Gwillimbury takes its name from the family of Elizabeth Simcoe, née Gwillim, wife of Sir John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Sharon Temple
History
[edit]
East Gwillimbury began with the early development of Upper Canada by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe in the late 18th century. On his order, Yonge Street was constructed from Lake Ontario to what is now the village of Holland Landing in East Gwillimbury. The areas to the north and east were named East Gwillimbury and North Gwillimbury in honour of Simcoe's wife, Elizabeth Gwillim. In 1849 the Baldwin Act incorporated the Township of East Gwillimbury effective January 1, 1850. The Province of Ontario incorporated the Town of East Gwillimbury effective January 1, 1971.
As the East Gwillimbury area grew, a number of communities developed. They were the villages or hamlets of Brown Hill, Franklin, Holland Landing, Holt (formerly Eastville), Mount Albert, Queensville (formerly colloquially known as The Four Corners), Ravenshoe, River Drive, and Sharon (formerly Hope).
In 1913, all township records were destroyed in a fire at the clerk's office in Queensville.
Climate
[edit]
East Gwillimbury has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb).
Climate data for East Gwillimbury (Data from Buttonville Airport)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
−2.8(27.0)
−1.7(28.9)
3.8(38.8)
11.1(52.0)
18.6(65.5)
23.2(73.8)
25.8(78.4)
25.0(77.0)
21.2(70.2)
13.6(56.5)
6.6(43.9)
0.2(32.4)
12.0(53.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)
−6.4(20.5)
−5.7(21.7)
−0.5(31.1)
6.3(43.3)
13.5(56.3)
18.4(65.1)
21.0(69.8)
20.1(68.2)
16.2(61.2)
9.5(49.1)
3.1(37.6)
−2.7(27.1)
7.7(45.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
−10.5(13.1)
−10.3(13.5)
−4.9(23.2)
1.8(35.2)
8.2(46.8)
13.4(56.1)
15.9(60.6)
15.3(59.5)
11.5(52.7)
5.6(42.1)
−0.4(31.3)
−5.9(21.4)
3.3(38.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
53.3(2.10)
50.8(2.00)
47.5(1.87)
58.4(2.30)
57.0(2.24)
69.3(2.73)
71.1(2.80)
56.2(2.21)
53.1(2.09)
52.1(2.05)
48.5(1.91)
56.5(2.22)
673.8(26.52)
Source: Weather.Directory
Government
[edit]
The municipal council consists of a mayor elected at large and two councillors elected per ward, with the mayor also representing the town in York Regional Council. The current and recent mayors are:
Mayor
Overall Term
Virginia Hackson
2010 to present
James Young
2000 to 2010
Jim Mortson
1991 to 2000
Robert Featherstonhaugh
1985 to 1991
Angus Morton
1977 to 1985
Gladys Rolling
1970 to 1976
Virginia Hackson was elected mayor in the 2010 election, and re-elected in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
In the 2018 election, where council was elected for a four-year term, East Gwillimbury's council was elected on the basis of three wards, with two councillors from each ward. The elected councillors were Loralea Carruthers, Terry Foster, Joe Persechini, Tara Roy-Diclemente, Cathy Morton and Scott Crone.
The Federal Member of Parliament is Scot Davidson of the Conservative Party of Canada representing the riding of New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, who was elected in a by-election on February 25, 2019. He replaced Peter Van Loan, who retired as of September 30, 2018.
The Member of Provincial Parliament is Caroline Mulroney, a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, representing the provincial riding of York—Simcoe, who won the seat in the 2018 provincial election.
East Gwillimbury federal election results
Year
Liberal
Conservative
New Democratic
Green
2021
33%
4,704
48%
6,859
12%
1,728
0%
9
2019
30%
4,503
46%
7,063
11%
1,636
10%
1,468
East Gwillimbury provincial election results
Year
PC
New Democratic
Liberal
Green
2022
56%
5,898
10%
1,100
20%
2,083
8%
800
2018
56%
6,957
22%
2,703
16%
2,051
5%
609
Emergency services[edit]
There are three fire and emergency services locations, in Holland Landing, Mount Albert and Queensville. They are each staffed by a District Fire Chief and volunteer firefighters.
Police services are provided by the York Regional Police.
Planning[edit]
In March, 2006 the town council passed a policy during the Committee of the Whole Council Meeting which requires all residential developments of at least ten units to comply with Energy Star qualifications. The town's mayor described potential benefits of the program: "Energy efficient housing is the best way to ensure that East Gwillimbury's residents are insulated against rising energy costs and won't have to make costly energy efficiency upgrade retrofits in the future." The program was developed in conjunction with the development community, and stipulates "that homes in new subdivisions must — emphasis here on must — have some of the most efficient hot water, heating and air conditioning systems, be upgraded with top-rated insulation, and have draft-proof windows."
East Gwillimbury is the first jurisdiction in Canada to require Energy Star certification for residential units.
The 2010 Official Plan[edit]
In June 2010, town council passed the Official Plan for the Town of East Gwillimbury. The Official Plan was praised for its consultations
with the public, developers, and other stakeholders. Designated as a future growth area under the Places to Grow Act by the Province of Ontario, East Gwillimbury will see growth from 23,000 residents in 2010, to approximately 88,400 people and 34,000 jobs by the year 2031. Despite the large amount of growth, almost 75% of East Gwillimbury land will not be developed as it is part of both the Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine. Rather than being spread out throughout the town, growth will be concentrated in the existing villages of Holland Landing, Sharon, Queensville and Mount Albert. Queensville will see the most growth, going from a population of 650 people in 2010, to over 30,000 residents. Much of the growth has been proposed since the early 1990s – however, growth in East Gwillimbury cannot occur until the York–Durham Sewage System is extended into the town, which has been postponed until 2012 or 2013, when costs are lowered. In October 2011, the Regional Municipality of York advised the Ontario Municipal Board, that they support the Official Plan for East Gwillimbury.
Demographics
[edit]
East Gwillimbury Historical populationsYearPop.±%198112,565—    199118,367+46.2%200120,555+11.9%200621,069+2.5%201122,473+6.7%201623,991+6.8%202134,637+44.4%
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, East Gwillimbury had a population of 34,637 living in 11,449 of its 11,869 total private dwellings, a change of 44.4% from its 2016 population of 23,991. With a land area of 244.91 km2 (94.56 sq mi), it had a population density of 141.4/km2 (366.3/sq mi) in 2021.
Ethnicity[edit]
Panethnic groups in the Town of East Gwillimbury (2001−2021)
Panethnic group
2021
2016
2011
2006
2001
Pop.
%
Pop.
%
Pop.
%
Pop.
%
Pop.
%
European
23,420
68.64%
20,430
87.18%
20,505
93.27%
19,805
95.75%
19,475
96.43%
East Asian
4,105
12.03%
850
3.63%
300
1.36%
190
0.92%
280
1.39%
Middle Eastern
1,715
5.03%
350
1.49%
50
0.23%
25
0.12%
85
0.42%
South Asian
1,620
4.75%
460
1.96%
135
0.61%
95
0.46%
35
0.17%
African
950
2.78%
340
1.45%
245
1.11%
100
0.48%
65
0.32%
Southeast Asian
695
2.04%
230
0.98%
325
1.48%
160
0.77%
40
0.2%
Latin American
520
1.52%
100
0.43%
135
0.61%
40
0.19%
15
0.07%
Indigenous
465
1.36%
455
1.94%
220
1%
160
0.77%
135
0.67%
Other/multiracial
640
1.88%
230
0.98%
60
0.27%
120
0.58%
80
0.4%
Total responses
34,120
98.51%
23,435
97.68%
21,985
97.83%
20,685
98.18%
20,195
98.25%
Total population
34,637
100%
23,991
100%
22,473
100%
21,069
100%
20,555
100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses
Canada 2016 Census
Population
Percent
Ethnic origin (multiple responses included) Source:
English
8,025
34.2
Canadian
7,100
30.3
Scottish
5,260
22.4
Irish
5,200
22.2
German
2,600
11.1
Italian
2,045
8.7
French
2,010
8.6
Dutch
1,325
5.7
British Isles origins, n.i.e.
950
4.1
Polish
835
3.6
Ukrainian
805
3.4
Chinese
785
3.3
First Nations
605
2.6
Russian
590
2.5
Welsh
550
2.3
Attractions
[edit]
The Sharon Temple is located in the village of Sharon, Ontario. It was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990. The site is composed of eight distinctive heritage buildings and dwellings, and houses 6,000 artifacts on a 1.8-hectare (4.4-acre) site. The Temple was constructed between 1825 and 1831 by the "Children of Peace", a Quaker sect led by David Willson, on whose property it was built.
East Gwillimbury GO Station main building
Aerial view of Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park looking east.
Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park is a naturist (nudist) park located between the villages of Sharon and Mount Albert. It attracts thousands of visitors to East Gwillimbury and has a significant economic impact on area tourism. It has been in that location since 1972 when it was known as the Toronto Helios Society.
Stardust Drive-In Theatre on Mount Albert Road opened in 1950s as North York Drive-In and is one of a handful of drive-in theatres remaining in Canada.
Education
[edit]
Schools in East Gwillimbury are governed by the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board. There are several elementary schools. Under the public system, the school board operates Holland Landing Public School, Park Avenue Public School, located in Holland Landing and Phoebe Gilman Public School in the Harvest Hills neighborhood. Sharon Public School, Queensville Public School and Mt. Albert Public School are located in Sharon, Queensville and Mount Albert respectively. The York Catholic District School Board operates Good Shepherd Catholic School (Holland Landing and Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Elementary School in Sharon). There are currently no secondary schools in East Gwillimbury, so students in Holland Landing attend Dr. John M. Denison Secondary School in Newmarket and students from Sharon, Queensville and Mount Albert attend Huron Heights Secondary School, also in Newmarket or Stouffville District Secondary School located in Whitchurch-Stouffville. Good Shepherd and Our Lady of Good Counsel students may proceed to Sacred Heart Catholic High School for secondary school. No post-secondary campuses are located in East Gwillimbury, though there are plans to bring a post-secondary institution to the Queensville area. East Gwillimbury's newest public school, Robert Munsch Public School, opened in 2014 in Mount Albert.
Transportation
[edit]
Local public transportation is provided by York Region Transit, who operate bus services to Sharon, Queensville, Holland Landing and Mount Albert. GO Transit also offers commuter train and bus services to Toronto through its East Gwillimbury Station on the Barrie line.
Ontario Highway 404 has been extended to just south of Keswick in the Town of Georgina, passing through East Gwillimbury. The town is served by three interchanges along Highway 404, namely Green Lane just north of Newmarket, Queensville Sideroad, and Woodbine Ave at the north end.
Notable people
[edit]
William S. Beaton, former mayor of Sudbury
Sam Bennett, NHL player with the Florida Panthers
John Candy, actor and comedian
Ebenezer Doan, master builder of Sharon Temple
Samuel Lount, organizer of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion
Curtis Joseph, retired NHL goalie
Guy Paul Morin, wrongly convicted
Brett Rheeder, mountain biker
David Willson, founder of the Children of Peace
